Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon

Straight off, it’s like taking a sniff of freshly baked banana bread, with caramel, cinnamon, baked apples, and bits of burnt sugar, walnuts, and whipped topping. The palate brings in more banana bread, vanilla, golden raisins, butterscotch, mild cinnamon, and milk chocolate, as well as some bright sugary tones and freshly cut lumber. The finish eases in with more pastries and just a hint of barrel bitterness.

Not to be confused with the small batch Taylor which is also BIB, the single barrel BIB which is clearly cut to reduction of 100 proof is a different animal. The single barrel Taylor has just been delivered and I imagine in a way the bourbon lovers receiving it are also feeling the exact same way. Every once in a great while a bourbon comes along that sets a standard for defining the genre, something so concisely pure we can look to it as a reference. In many ways the Taylor SB is a reference for what a pure standard high corn mash bourbon comes in as, it has the spectrum of corn sugars covered on every base. More than that, what Taylor SB brings is what a perfect definition of a high corn low rye bourbon bill should have with no exceptions and no faults in delivery. Lets get to it then. Nose: Pure sweet bourbon notes, the caramels, vanillins, brown sugars, toffees and dark chocolate sugar notes are all present, none over shadowing the other, balance achieved this is a grandiose display of what an outstanding traditional bourbon head should be and is. Front: The notes deliver and the sweet arsenal of true corn bourbon comes in as we get all the sweet notes presented with a notable absence of any harshness or out of place character. Again this is what you might imagine an exact definition of standard high corn bourbon would be if you let your imagination run away with the intent of divining a perfect rendition of the tradition of a great American heritage. Bourbon should taste like this, that's really what it come down to, and the Taylor single barrel makes you realize IT CAN. Finish: Pure enjoyment of the fading memory of a great taste, nothing impure or distracting from the achievement of the excellent dram just sampled, no heat, no burn just a realization that you experienced something far above and beyond what the average daily drinker is, and you really can't wait for more! Start to finish Taylor's Single Barrel comes through. If I had to try and conjure up a flaw with Taylors' SB offering it might be in the proof and cutting of the source juice to achieve the BIB strength of 50 ABV, a step I'm not entirely sure is necessary other than achieving a somewhat superfluous certification stamp of approval. The lower rye B.T. mash bills of which the Taylor juice belong are intriguing and aged properly achieve the worthy high status as industry leaders. Taylors Single Barrel is an achievement all bourbon aficionados will be happy they have sampled. A hardly salute and well done to the Col E.H. Taylor Jr. trust.

The nose was caramel and alcohol forward. The palate hits all the standard bourbon notes perfectly and adds cinnamon, pepper, wolf river apple. Plenty of barrel flavor. Overall I’d say the palate is better than the nose. It’s quite similar to standard Buffalo Trace with a touch more fruit and strength. Its good but I probably won’t buy it again at this price. Medium to long finish. Ends with oak and a nice peppery Kentucky hug.

Butterscotch with floral and spice. Comes through a bit thinner and hotter than I would have wanted. Still interesting.